Good morning! It's sunny and gorgeous - not the typical weather here for the first week of February, but I'm not about to complain. I know it won't last, so I'll enjoy it for now, and temper the urge to hurry winter along with bright yellow daffodils and lush greenery around the house.
Though I had longed to visit the local nursery yesterday, I realized that I was getting ahead of myself. The trees are still bare. Not much is in bloom. Instead I enjoyed a relaxing stroll around the neighborhood, holding my hubby's hand, making plans for our garden and yard. Spring is around the corner, but it's not now. And that's okay.
The natural turn of seasons is important.
It's easy to get caught up in the moment and wish to skip or bypass areas in our lives that we don't enjoy. I'm not a winter person, but I can make the most of winter with some creativity. I find what works for me - cooking hearty soups and stews, baking scrumptious goodies, losing myself in a good book or three, and slowing down to enjoy quality family time. We need our seasons. We need them to run their course. From sleep to food to nature, it's a process. It's a balance.
Like the desire to rush the seasons, I can get ahead of myself in the quest to finish a book or project. What happens is the balance of the book is off. Characters aren't fully developed. My voice is uneven. The ending is rushed. Dialogue is stilted. I even find myself trying to rush edits. And the end result is a book out of balance. It doesn't work. I may not like it, but I can't move forward until I accept that the book needs more time.
Like the seasons, we need to let the story run its course. We need to slow down to learn and enjoy the process of writing. Sometimes that means digging deeper, doing more research, not looking ahead but focus on what's in front of us. The book will get finished, maybe not right now. So I find what works and allow the story the time it needs.
I didn't hit all of my goals for the week, but what I did accomplish added value to my work. It added value to me as a writer. I found a way that works for me. I'm embracing the creative process and tempering the urge to rush.
What's your writing process when you've got a deadline looming and you know your story isn't ready?
sounds like you've got your balance - that's good - as to the garden having a snowstorm dumped on us last night killed any desire for gardening yet:)
ReplyDeleteall the best for coming week
I like your thoughts about seasons and writing. As for me, I have several times had a word count or get to such-and-such point in my goals, and then I realize I need to slow down, do more research, stew about the plot more, etc. Not everyone has that luxury, but it's important to take whatever time you can to make your book the best it can be. Best wishes for finding what works this week and making the progress that you want! Happy ROW80!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful descriptive, Marie. We've been having the same non-typical non-winter here. I'm not a winter person either and enjoying the weather. You are right on about the need for seasons (my sponsor post for ROW was on this subject) and the need to let things move as they will.
ReplyDeleteBalance and maturity, a wonderful combination. Have a fantastic week :)
This hit a nerve with me because I am closing in on the last quarter of my WIP (I think...maybe last third!) and I know there is so much that needs to be changed. The tone and order of events to name but a few. I am just ploughing ahead and I know I am rushing thinking that I will sort it out later. Only time will tell how well this works out for me!
ReplyDeleteHave a great think and thank you as always for your positive comments :)